By Gloria Nosa
Newly released emails linked to convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein have reshaped public perceptions of Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, portraying her as increasingly vulnerable and financially strained during the period of their correspondence.
Once known for her resilience and ability to rebound from public embarrassment, Ferguson now appears in the emails as a figure seeking reassurance, money and practical support. In several messages, she describes herself as “very traumatised and alone,” at one point even suggesting she could work for Epstein by helping to “organise your houses.”
The tone of the correspondence contrasts sharply with glimpses of her privileged lifestyle. In one email, she refers to being in the south of France with what she calls the “perfect butler,” highlighting the contradictions that run through the exchanges.
The BBC has contacted Ferguson for comment. Her appearance in the Epstein files does not, in itself, imply any criminal wrongdoing.
Familiarity and dependence
The emails suggest a level of closeness that goes beyond casual acquaintance. Epstein at times appears to treat Ferguson as someone within his personal orbit, asking her to facilitate access to high-profile locations and contacts.
In a March 2010 message, Epstein wrote to “Ferg” asking whether one of her daughters could show a visitor around Buckingham Palace. An apparent reply from “Sarah” simply says, “Of course.” In later messages, she apologises when her daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, are unavailable, explaining their whereabouts in detail.
As more emails emerge, a pattern of emotional reliance becomes apparent. Ferguson refers to Epstein as her “pillar” and confides that she has been “so so sad,” suggesting a dependency that deepened over time.
Some of the correspondence dates from periods when Epstein had already been convicted in the United States for soliciting sex from a minor and was serving, or had just completed, a prison sentence. Documents show emails from Ferguson both shortly before and after his release in July 2009.
Requests for work and reassurance
By mid-2010, the tone of Ferguson’s messages appears increasingly anxious. In one email from August, she writes: “I am feeling very traumatised and alone. I am wanting to work for you at organising your houses.” The following month, she reportedly asks when he plans to employ her, later adding: “phew… you still love me.”
She also refers warmly to her former husband, Prince Andrew, writing that he is a “saint” and that she still loves him. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, and his office has been contacted for comment on the latest document release.
Behind the scenes, Epstein’s associates appear less sympathetic. One internal message describes efforts to sort out Ferguson’s finances as “painful,” adding that the situation was an “incredible mess.”
Anger at press and Palace
In a separate email from July 2010, Ferguson vents frustration at the British press and the Royal Household amid intense media scrutiny, the same year tabloids reported that she had offered access to Prince Andrew in exchange for money.
She writes that the press was “ready to exterminate me” and claims the Palace was “not equipped to deal with this huge wave of negativity.” In the same message, she suggests she was being deliberately abandoned.
“I am totally on my own now,” the email reads. “This is beyond scandalous and nobody can do anything.”
She goes on to argue that former members of the Royal Family are routinely discredited, adding that she was being “hung out to dry.”
Reputational fallout
The latest tranche of Epstein-related documents, released by the US Department of Justice, does not accuse Ferguson of criminal conduct. However, the tone and content of the emails risk further distancing her from public life, offering an unflattering portrait of a royal figure struggling with isolation, money troubles and a deep reliance on a deeply controversial associate.
